What We Bring Back From the Campground
Aside from wonderful memories of Lake Marie on our 9th annual visit to
the coast, we are bringing back a new cat, Umpqua (or "Umpqua
Lighthouse State Cat").
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First Football Game
Things really got going at the game. While I'm spending most of my
time managing computers in the back rooms, I've been mixing with the
crowd as I move around. It's wild to see the spirit and enthusiasm
rampant at the game.
- Comment by Dave'ola - 9/6/2008 4:26 pm
I conceptually had no idea there were that many people at a local football game. Obviously, I haven't been to a game since high school. I'm not sure if I should be impressed at the fanatical dedication or concerned...
Go Ducks!
Today, I'm helping supervise the Duck Football game's concession
inventory and cash system. Never been to a football game before... I
brought some books just in case. 
- Comment by tvindy - 11/2/2008 12:18 am
So that's what the inside of that building looks like. I've never been in there, but I recognized it instantly from the window configuration.
Two Week Vacation
I decided to give myself 2 weeks off. "Off what? You're unemployed", you might ask. Well, I've been meeting a lot of people in "networking" to find my next employer and to help Anne Marie with her new practice, and working on the very beginnings of a medium sized project for the U of O. I'm keeping up this business work enough that it's encroaching on my expanded Summer fathering time and seasonal projects on the farm, etc. Encroaching! Enough that I decided to take a break until Lauren is back in school after Labor Day!
2 weeks of relaxation! Except for the day of work at the U tomorrow. And the handful of letters I've sent for job stuff. And the 3 meetings I had already kind of arranged. I'm just not that good at taking time off to vacation from the parade of projects!
Learning to give myself a vacation is a priority for me! Not like a european vacation. I mean a chance to set aside the concerns in front of me and really be here and enjoy the moment. I think I'll have to start small. Maybe a 3 hour vacation? Or a day? Maybe 15 minutes is a good start...
I'm being cynical, of course. My real goal is to be on permanent vacation, with not too much trouble on the farm, the family in good spirits, and interesting new work. I can enjoy every moment and achieve more if I get that "permanent vacation" feeling and bring it to my interests, my chores, my work, and other stops on the tour bus of life. I long shot, but...
I still have 10 days of "vacation" to try and get there!
After 20 years...
I lost my job with CSNW a month ago today, after working for them for 20 years. Readers with a memory of two and a half years will understand that I was not surprised by being let go, since I started the process of hiring my own replacements quite a while ago, in the hopes that I could move to more programming and project management work. The process took almost two years longer than I expected, since the first replacement didn't work out. Now that a second new IT director is having greater success and I have finished training him and members of the new IT department, I was not at all surprised that they did not want to retain me for software architecture and project management. I'm excited to have a chance to move on to a new career with a company that understands investment in software and systems design.
Since I've been out of work, I've just been lounging around. HA! Actually, as both of you know (sorry, bad blog humor), I always have a zillion projects going. Between spending time with Lauren on her Summer vacation, helping Anne Marie with her new business, and beginning the process of networking with colleagues, friends and local software company contacts to choose my next work, I've felt busier than ever in unemployment. Truly, since this will probably be the only time between ages 16 and 60 that I am not employed, I have decided to slow things down now and experience a bit more pure relaxation before I embark on my new career sometime in the coming year. Towards that end, I spent 3 hours this morning tuning an autoharp and learning to play "Home on the Range". Totally frivolous!
The other pleasant side effect of being away from CSNW is that it will be much easier for me to resume blogging. In early 2006, the company asked me not to write about work-related thoughts, even though I had been very careful never to disclose anything sensitive. Especially in my last 2 years of employment, my work and my efforts to move the company and myself in a new direction have represented a lot of the contents of my mind. So, it was hard to write here without mentioning work, and posts have been very slim in the last two years. I am hoping that having a blank check to write about my cares now will make it much easier to write more. I wanted to wait a month to be sure that I had completed any consulting work with CSNW... now stand back and prepare to read!
There is so much more to say... how disappointing CSNW's method of terminating me was, how Lauren and I had the most wonderful repeat of the day sleeping we did two years ago, how we are making up 75% of my salary while I'm out of work, about my perfect scores in testing at the University, about camping, and so much more. Stay Tuned!
- Comment by Dave'ola - 8/1/2008 3:16 pm
Given your musical pursuit this morning, perhaps you can now answer this burning question in my mind then: When our 3rd grade teacher's substitute, who was known for playing her autoharp for all of us, told us the story about the kids who played music and attracted UFO's from the vibrations of the musical instruments, and then said she would finish the rest of the story for us when she came back the next time, and then never came back... how does the story end?!
(At least, I recall it was an autoharp. The coincidence may merely be insanity on my part).
- Comment by Michael - 8/1/2008 3:54 pm
I think that story ends with me forgetting about it until you mention it 30 years later. With my mind's efficient freshness dating, that story was probably forgotten 29 years, 4 months ago. Nonetheless, you WILL be serenaded with autoharp at our next dinner party!
- Comment by Dave'ola - 8/9/2008 11:40 am
Hey, where's the rest of the exciting story? All two of us are sitting on the edge of our seats!
Pool Day
It's our first "Family Swim" of the Summer and as you can see from the view from my pool chair, the 90 degree weather has brought the crowds. In fact, a family just asked if they could settle in the last patch of grass at our feet. Ah, relaxation!
How Lauren Swings
Creative, eh? We're just enjoying the back yard after a busy day and before dinner.
Anne Marie Moore, Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner
As some of you know, one of the few reasons I have not been spending much time blogging is that I've been using my extra time to help my wife, Anne Marie, open her private practice office, Anne Marie Moore, Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner.
She has been working for Planned Parenthood in recent years, but has a vision about health care for women that includes gynecology, and hormones, and menopause, but also allows her to have more time with her patients to genuinely address their health care concerns overall, and to provide the time, respect and health education that almost everyone observes is missing from many family doctor and gynecologist offices these days.
I really believe that Anne Marie is on the cutting edge of a health care revolution, where patients demand better, more respectful care. Anne Marie's private practice office in Eugene, OR opened on Monday. Wish her luck, or (if you're a woman in the Eugene area who could use a better health care experience) get in touch with her about an appointment.
- Comment by Peggy McGuire-Dale - 3/24/2008 7:22 pm
Congratulations on your initiative to leave an established organization & strike out on your own so you can fulfill your vision on providing women with the care & time they need.
I, too, am a WHCNP, working for Planned Parenthood in Portland & came upon this site today as I started to explore alternatives for my provision of care. I was very excited to read about your venture.
The best of luck & wishes for a successful practice!
Peggy - Pingback by Following Edge » After 20 years... - 8/1/2008 1:21 pm
[...] Since I've been out of work, I've just been lounging around. HA! Actually, as both of you know (sorry, bad blog humor), I always have a zillion projects going. Between spending time with Lauren on her Summer vacation, helping Anne Marie with her new business, and beginning the process of networking with colleagues, friends and local software company contacts to choose my next work, I've felt busier than ever in unemployment. Truly, since this will probably be the only time between ages 16 and 60 that I am not employed, I have decided to slow things down now and experience a bit more pure relaxation before I embark on my new career sometime in the coming year. Towards that end, I spent 3 hours this morning tuning an autoharp and learning to play "Home on the Range". Totally frivolous! [...]
Foxy Cam
Now, with that post title, I should get some interesting visitors. But, seriously, our newer horse, Foxy, is going to be having a foal later this month. To show we've evolved beyond sleeping in the barn to monitor our pregnant horse, we have borrowed a wireless web camera to watch her. (Thanks, David!)
So, here is Foxy Cam!
- Comment by tvindy - 3/12/2008 9:37 pm
First comment!
- Comment by tvindy - 3/22/2008 11:37 am
Darn! The camera is offline. I Guess Foxy wanted some privacy.
- Comment by tvindy - 3/29/2008 7:52 pm
Hey! Baby horsey!!!
- Comment by Dave'ola - 5/17/2008 8:01 am
It has been an honor to watch the entire process. Beats the Animal Planet channel anytime! Oh yes: What, no cigars at the end?!
Bloody Doll
Today, I went to the Gingerbread Village Restaurant with my parents. I was eating and I sprayed ketchup all over one of my dolls when I meant to put it on my place. Before my mom washed her, she looked like she was bleeding all over really badly.
Before going to the restaurant, we went for a hike at a park. One park ranger told us to stop at post number 9 because there were angry bees on the trail. It was really fun.
Dog Wash
Here I am with my dog, Sasha. The dog is a girl. We are with my shopping cart, where I carry a little pony I named Sunshine and some other things.
My dog was stinky. My mom said "You should take Sasha
out for a dog wash". We took Sasha out for a dog wash, just like she said and also for a walk. Sasha feels happy because she had a great day today.
Sasha thought she would get a treat at the gas station. I asked if my dad could get Sasha one, but he said no, because my dog had lots of dog treats and a drink of water before then.
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My Ballet School
Me and my friends practice ballet every Thursday. In the first picture, they are acting really, really silly, and so am I. We are not supposed to.
In the last picture, I am running ballet runs to my teacher Florabelle. My dad pretends he has a teacher named Glorafelle and tries to tell me what spring pointe is. My dad is very, very silly. He says things that are nonsense when he talks about ballet moves. He thinks that I make fun of his teacher's name, but he is really making fun of my teacher.
In two days, I am going to have a ballet performance of Sleeping Beauty at the Hult Center. I will play a woodland nymph.
- Comment by Aunt Carol - 6/12/2007 5:25 am
Dear Lauren,
It is wonderful to learn about your ballet. Your cousin, Kim, still takes dance lessons, so this is something you can enjoy for long time. I'm sure you are a lovely dancer!
Please keep writing about what you are doing. It is fun to read and lets me know you are growing up
quickly. It makes me wish I could visit with you more often.Love, Aunt Carol
Ballin' The Jack
Today was my Spring concert at my school, Far Horizons Montessori School. This is a picture of us on stage. Some people, like me, are in Elementary, and the other people are in Primary 2, which is Kindergarden. We are dancing "Ballin' the Jack" on stage. I am dancing with Sequoia, one of the Primary 2 students. I used to be Primary 2 last year. At the end of our performance, people clapped and then some children sang "Ballin' the Jack".
The Elementary class sang two songs, then had a play about being not nice to people. Two kids had a blue mask and other students said "Their skin is blue" and "They have really stupid clothes", which is a bad cursing word. So, kids don't say that at home.
- Comment by tvindy - 6/4/2007 10:14 am
I went to Montessori when I was little. I don't think we did the blue people thing, though. (I can't say for sure, because it was several years ago.)
Memorial Day
This weekend, Anne Marie, Lauren and I went to the coast, found a campground, camped in our tents, and enjoyed a campfire... but not in that order.
We did enjoy our campground and campfire, pictured to the right, where we roasted hot dogs and s'mores over the fire, relaxed and read in our camping chairs, enjoyed drinks, and played a game of Go Fish before sleeping in the rather chilly night air.
However, as you can see from the reverse-angle picture below, our campsite was less than 20 feet from our house. I also added a Lauren close-up below, because it's so cute.
The next morning, we "broke camp" to the comfort of our home, then took a short trip to Florence, where we happened to stop at a state park campground to use their restroom (without paying the $5 day use fee, heh heh).
Aside from the very low temperatures, our camping excursion was a lot of fun, and gave us a chance to burn our scrap wood and downed limbs, so we'll probably make it a "lazy camping" tradition in nice weather.
- Comment by tvindy - 5/28/2007 10:41 pm
I had to read through that about ten times before it finally made sense to me.
Also, your house doesn't look like a geodesic dome when seen from that angle, but I suppose it could be.
Darts
Today we were playing a game called lawn darts at the RiverPlay park. I had a lot of fun. I think this was the first time I've played it. I think I've seen a lot of people play it before, but maybe, the answer is no.
We played it two rounds. My dad and I tied the first time, and I won the second time. I thought the darts were ball catchers or bases before I knew what they were. My dad taught me how to use them. He used to play the game with his dad, but he used metal darts with pins or knives.
- Comment by Lauren - 6/8/2007 6:38 pm
Bill! You're talking to the wrong person. I am not Jim! I am Lauren!
- Comment by Bessie Hampton - 11/12/2008 3:48 pm
w1o3twkamehors61
How To Tie Your Shoes: Rocket Style and Bunny Ears
These are my tie shoes. I now know how to tie my tie shoes. I learned from a book called "Tie Your Shoes: Rocket Style/Bunny Ears" and I tie my shoes Bunny Ears style. My dad went to the store and bought really long shoelaces for me so I can tie them fast.
I wore my tie shoes to school on Friday for the whole day. Before, I just tried them on. I'm planning, I think, to get new tie shoes, now that I can wear them to school.
The Worms
Here I am with a worm collection that I made and a worm house I made with yellow and white paper.
I got the worms in our back yard where our horses poop. I live on a farm and put rocks, dirt and grass from our farm in for the worms.
I was trying to make a worm castle, but it turned into a house. I tried to find a worm from the collection to try the worm house, but there were no worms in sight. My dad thinks they are resting comfortably in their dirt.
- Comment by Dave'ola - 5/15/2007 8:41 pm
Did she actually say the phrase, "resting comfortably"? An advanced intellect, no doubt!
- Comment by tvindy - 5/15/2007 10:29 pm
I remember we did something like that in kindergarten in a large mayonnaise jar. The teacher wrapped black construction paper around the outside. A few days later, she removed the paper, and the worms had created a network of tunnels against the inside off the glass, and you could see them in there. Apparently, if you don't darken the outside, the worms will flee the light, and you will never see them.
- Comment by Sally - 5/16/2007 2:03 pm
Dear Lauren: I really enjoyed your "Following Edge" stories. Please tell us more interesting tales soon.
Oma Sally - Comment by Lauren - 5/20/2007 5:40 pm
Dave'ola, you're so silly. My dad thought they were resting comfortably, not me. Worms don't rest comfortably, they work making poop that our horses poo into dirt and they help the earth. This is Lauren.